Question 1

What is the STEV Series and why was it designed for OEM platform standardisation?

Accepted Answer

The GIGAVAC STEV Series is the modular hermetic high-voltage contactor family Sensata Technologies launched on 14 January 2026 for battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). STEV's positioning is to let OEMs standardise their high-voltage architectures across multiple vehicle lines using a single contactor platform. From passenger cars to Class 8 heavy-duty trucks the same core technology applies — saving development time, reducing SKU count, simplifying supply chains and accelerating integration. Markus Schwabe (Sensata EVP Automotive): "We don't just build components — we engineer solutions together with our customers."

Question 2

Which vehicle types and applications does the STEV series cover?

Accepted Answer

STEV is a modular platform covering every EV segment:

• Passenger BEVs: hatchback, sedan, SUV — typically 150-300 A
• PHEVs: lower power + high-frequency switching
• Electric pickups: F-150 Lightning, Rivian R1T, Hummer EV — typically 300-500 A
• Class 8 heavy-duty trucks: Tesla Semi, Volvo VNR Electric, Freightliner eCascadia — 500-600 A
• Electric buses: urban and long-haul
• Off-highway electric machinery: mining, construction, agriculture

STEV's primary role is safe power-flow control between the battery and the inverter / charging system.

Question 3

What does "modular 150-600 A range" mean? Why can't a single contactor cover the whole range?

Accepted Answer

STEV uses a modular design philosophy — the same core technology spans variants of different current ratings.

Physical constraints: a 150 A unit cannot carry 600 A (insufficient contact area, impossible thermal management); a 600 A unit is oversized and costly for 150 A duty.

OEM benefit: a 200 A passenger car and a 550 A heavy-duty truck share the same technology — engineering validation, supplier relationships and spares logistics happen once.

Single vs Dual Assembly: Single Assembly 150-400 A for passenger and light EV; Dual Assembly 400-600 A for pickups, buses, trucks and heavy-duty.

Question 4

What is the difference between Single and Dual Assembly?

Accepted Answer

Single Assembly: one unit in one housing, 150-400 A, ideal for passenger cars and light EVs — low profile, lower cost.
Dual Assembly: two units integrated in one package, 400-600 A, suited to pickups, buses, trucks and heavy-duty — positive/negative pole separation or redundancy, extra safety and flexibility.

Both options share the same core STEV technology.

Question 5

What does ">20 kA short-circuit withstand" mean and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

>20 kA short-circuit withstand means the STEV contactor can survive a fault current up to 20,000 A. Modern EV batteries can produce dangerous currents at this level under faults (internal cell failure, HV line break, inverter failure, post-crash cable damage).

Under >20 kA conditions STEV keeps the contact physically intact — no explosion or fire risk, minimal welding risk, hermetic insulation controls the high-current arc.

Question 6

What do "bidirectional current capability" and "non-polarity main contacts" mean?

Accepted Answer

Traditional EV contactors are optimised for one direction; STEV's select models use non-polarity main contacts that perform equally in both directions.

Benefits: V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) compatibility, bidirectional charging (V2H, V2L), optimised charge/discharge in both directions, flexible system design — OEMs need not pin a flow direction.

With V2G adoption accelerating after 2026, bidirectional STEV variants are a strategic choice.

Question 7

What does "APQP compliant" mean and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) is the standardised quality framework used by automotive OEMs for component reliability — defined by AIAG (Automotive Industry Action Group).

Its five phases: plan & define, product design & development, process design & development, product/process validation, feedback & corrective action.

STEV's APQP compliance lets OEMs integrate without extra qualification, accelerates PPAP, supplies certification documentation, includes FMEA and process-capability data from Sensata, and shrinks line-integration from months to weeks.

Question 8

What does "customisable" mean? What can OEMs change?

Accepted Answer

Sensata describes STEV as "customisable to meet specific mission requirements". OEMs can adapt:

Electrical: coil voltage (12 V / 24 V / 48 V), current rating (150-600 A), switching speed.
Mechanical: mount type/orientation, terminal style (busbar, stud, cable), size and form factor.
Auxiliary: aux contact configuration (NO/NC/SPDT), position sensor integration, PWM control compatibility.
Environmental: IP rating (IP67 on selected variants), temperature range, vibration and shock profile.

Markus Schwabe: "We adapt STEV contactors to the specific demands of leading OEM applications."

Question 9

How does STEV's hermetic ceramic insulation differ from other GIGAVAC families?

Accepted Answer

STEV's hermetic ceramic insulation is tuned for arc control and environmental protection.

• STEV (hermetic ceramic): BEV/PHEV automotive platforms, modular 150-600 A
• GTM (glass-to-metal seal): 1500 V utility and V2G
• GX (EPIC® patented ceramic): 800 V EV main contactor
• HX (EPIC® ceramic): 1500 V utility solar and heavy-duty
• MX (ceramic): military and heavy-duty
• GV (ceramic): economical general purpose
• P (compact ceramic): pre-charge and solar

STEV is differentiated by automotive OEM platform standardisation — APQP compliance, customisable structure, global manufacturing footprint. With 3.0 kV dielectric and 1000 MΩ insulation resistance it delivers high electrical isolation for safety-critical automotive applications.

Question 10

When should I choose STEV vs the other GIGAVAC families?

Accepted Answer

The choice depends on application segment:

• STEV: BEV/PHEV automotive OEM platforms — single supplier and technology across passenger cars to Class 8 trucks, modular 150-600 A.
• HEC: 400 V / 800 V intelligent battery reconfiguration — EV charging without a boost converter.
• FaultBreak™: fuse + contactor in one device, ISO-26262.
• GTM: V2G-ready ESS, DC fast charging, utility-scale 1500 V.
• HX: 1500 Vdc utility solar and heavy-duty buses.
• GX: general-purpose 800 Vdc EV main contactor.
• MX: heavy-duty industrial and military.
• GV: economical general-purpose.
• P: compact pre-charge and solar.

STEV is the right call for new EV platforms designed from 2026 onwards and for manufacturers seeking standardisation across multiple vehicle lines.

Question 11

What advantage does STEV's global manufacturing network give OEMs?

Accepted Answer

Sensata supplies STEV from engineering and manufacturing sites in North America, Europe and Asia.

OEM regionalisation: production located close to customers, meeting local-content rules (USMCA, EU local content), minimising tariff exposure.

Fast localisation: regional launch support, local engineering and test capability, short lead times.

Supply-chain resilience: alternative sourcing during pandemic, geopolitical or natural-disaster events; no single point of failure; multi-region production redundancy.

After the 2020-2024 supply-chain shocks, OEMs prioritise globally networked suppliers — STEV is the natural fit.

Question 12

What do STEV's 3.0 kV dielectric and 1000 MΩ insulation values mean?

Accepted Answer

STEV's high isolation values target safety-critical EV applications.

3.0 kV coil-to-contact dielectric: 3000 V test withstand between the HV power path and the coil control circuit — a 3-4× safety margin over typical 800 V EV systems; service personnel are protected because HV cannot bleed into the low-voltage BMS.

1000 MΩ insulation @ 1000 VDC: one billion ohms under continuous 1000 V — essentially zero leakage. Compatible with modern 1000 V EV architectures and isolation monitoring systems.

These values are technical proof that STEV is directly usable in ASIL-C/D safety-critical applications.

Question 13

When did STEV launch and what is the supply situation in Turkey?

Accepted Answer

STEV launch timeline:
• 14 January 2026: global press release from Sensata Technologies (NYSE: ST), Swindon UK
• 2026 Q1-Q2: first integration discussions with OEMs
• 2026 Q3-Q4: APQP and PPAP approvals
• 2027: volume production expected
• 2027-2030: target of broad adoption on global EV OEM platforms

IMB Electric is the authorised STEV distributor in Turkey — contact us for stock, pricing and technical support; we offer sample supply, engineering and volume-production planning services.

Question 14

How can I purchase and evaluate STEV?

Accepted Answer

As authorised STEV distributor in Turkey, IMB Electric provides:

1. Samples & evaluation: per Sensata global stock; comparative testing of Single vs Dual Assembly; bidirectional variant evaluation for V2G.
2. Engineering support: EV power-architecture integration planning; customisation analysis; APQP/PPAP coordination; test protocols.
3. Volume-production support: project-based pricing; supply-chain planning; direct coordination with Sensata; regional production options.
4. Training & documentation: technical webinars, datasheets, application notes, OEM qualification documentation.

Reach us via the Contact section.

About the STEV Series series

01What is the STEV Series and why was it designed for OEM platform standardisation?

02Which vehicle types and applications does the STEV series cover?

03What does "modular 150-600 A range" mean? Why can't a single contactor cover the whole range?

04What is the difference between Single and Dual Assembly?

05What does ">20 kA short-circuit withstand" mean and why does it matter?

06What do "bidirectional current capability" and "non-polarity main contacts" mean?

07What does "APQP compliant" mean and why does it matter?

08What does "customisable" mean? What can OEMs change?

09How does STEV's hermetic ceramic insulation differ from other GIGAVAC families?

10When should I choose STEV vs the other GIGAVAC families?

11What advantage does STEV's global manufacturing network give OEMs?

12What do STEV's 3.0 kV dielectric and 1000 MΩ insulation values mean?

13When did STEV launch and what is the supply situation in Turkey?

14How can I purchase and evaluate STEV?